This service was produced by Worlds Day of Prayer, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (which is a Registered Charity).
The Service holds Copyright 2020 World Day of Prayer International Committee, Inc. and is reproduced here for the congregation of our churches, who cannot attend in person.
Donations to this charity can be made electronic by going to www.wwdp.org.uk and following the Dropdown Menu for Donations.
Thank you
Welcome to the service
I have heard about your faith
Before the Service
Taiwanese music was played and a Power Point presentation, to introduce Taiwan, was shown
Order of Service
Leader 2: Let us begin the 2023 World Day of Prayer worship service.
Leader 1: “Pmg-an.” (pronounced peng-an) This phrase in Taiwanese means
“May God grant you peace, a peaceful relationship with God and with one another.”
Leader 2: Welcome! On behalf of the sisters in Taiwan, we would like to welcome all of you to join us today in worship.
Leader 1: Dear sisters and brothers, through this celebration we would like to share our experiences with you and to witness to God’s wonderful grace and mighty works.
Opening Hymn – Praise my soul the King of heaven
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
- to his feet your tribute bring;
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who like you his praise should sing?
Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him!
praise the everlasting King.
- Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him, still the same as ever,
slow to blame and swift to bless;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him!
glorious in his faithfulness.
- Father-like, he tends and spares us,
Well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes:
Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him!
widely as his mercy flows.
- Angels, help us to adore him;
you behold him face to face;
sun and moon, bow down before him,
praise him all in time and space.
Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him!
praise with us the God of grace. (by Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
(During the singing of this hymn five women walk towards the Taiwan map puzzle, each carrying a puzzle piece. The five women put the puzzle pieces up on the display board to complete the map.)
After singing the song, greet one another, sharing the peace of Christ with those nearest to you.
Call to Worship
Leader 1: Praise to the Lord. We thank God for all the blessings bestowed upon Taiwan.
Leader 2: Praise God, the Creator, who created this beautiful island covered with mountain forests and nurtured by the ocean. Taiwan is rich in natural resources.
All: Let the name of the Lord be praised. May your glory be with us.
Leader 1: More than one hundred years ago, missionaries came to Taiwan to spread the good news. The people heard the gospel and received the grace of salvation.
All: Let the name of the Lord be praised. May your glory be with us.
Leader 2: Since the 16th century, Taiwan has been colonised by different foreign forces. The people experienced ethnic, cultural, social and political conflict and integration. By the grace of God, the islanders can live in peace. Taiwan shows great hospitality and is willing to help and become a blessing to others.
All: Gracious God, we thank you and praise you. May your glory be with us.
Prayer and Confession
Leader 1: Forgiving God, we confess our sins to you. We sin against you; we fail to take care of the land you entrusted to us and use it in unrighteous ways, causing pollution and the extinction of various species.
All: Oh Lord, have mercy on us.
Leader 2: Gracious God, we are selfish and arrogant. We have overlooked human dignity; we ignore the needs of minorities, migrants and immigrants. We hear the cries of the land, women, children and young people, but we have not done enough to respond to the grace that we received. These actions have caused some people to suffer and be oppressed.
All: Oh Lord, have mercy on us.
Assurance of Pardon
Leader 1: O God, you are faithful and righteous. May you forgive us, cleanse away our sins and help us live in the light. May you give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation as we come to know you and be filled with love and faith. May you reveal yourself to us so that we may know the immeasurable greatness of your power.
All: Amen.
Hymn: Open my eyes that I may see
1 Open my eyes that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
2 Open my ears that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear,
and while the wave notes fall on my ear,
ev’ry thing false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me,
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
3 Open my mouth and let me bear
gladly the warm truth ev’ry where.
Open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my mouth, illumine me,
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine! (by Clara H. Scott 1841 to 1897)
The Word if God
Scripture reading – Ephesians Chap: 1
15 For this reason, ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people,
16 I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you. I remember you in my prayers
17 and ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the Spirit, who will make you wise and reveal God to you, so that you will know him.
18 I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people,
19 and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength
Reader 1: I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
Meditation
Reader 2: Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus was written to them as a source of encouragement at a time of great adversity. Yet, throughout all that they faced, they still lived out their love and faith in their daily lives. Paul gave thanks to God for this and prayed that they would receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation and would come to know God through the light and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In everyday life we are often frustrated by difficulties, obstacles and challenging situations. Many people are bowed down under heavy emotional loads and are weary of life’s struggles. At times, we may even lose our hope and faith, relying on our weak human nature. However, we are called to keep our hope and faith in God’s kingdom and promises.
Today, as Christians in many parts of the world continue to face adverse circumstances, suffering from hardship and persecution, they still need to be surrounded in prayer and encouraged to hold steadfast to their faith just like Paul encouraged the Ephesians. As sisters in Christ wherever in the world we live, we need to keep each other in prayer and be encouraged to keep on whatever our personal circumstances. So, be encouraged, keep on even if progress is slow. Keep each other in prayer and, through prayer, demonstrate the love of God. Have conversations. Encounter God-appointed moments.
It is so important to have encouragers in our lives, people who are there for us when the going is tough. This is even more noteworthy when the Lord brings other Christians into our lives; people who strengthen us in our journeys of faith. Strategic, person-centred Gospel ministry – everyone has a part to play and everyone must play their part.
Even in the face of adversity we need to remain focused and faithful and align our will to the will of God. For Christians, opposition and difficulty are never far away. Spiritual advancement will always face opposition but if we, like Paul, encourage each other, the people of God, we in turn will also be encouraged.
In the eyes of God we are not pieces of confetti that go with the wind without specific direction: we are irreplaceable pieces of a puzzle. Just as the puzzle pieces were used to complete the map of Taiwan so, despite our different social backgrounds, regional contexts and diverse cultures, we uphold each other in prayer. For those who are persecuted for their Christian faith, we pray that they remain strong and faithful. May all of us live out and share our Christian love and faith in our daily lives.
(Short time for silent reflection)
Letters of Encouragement
(Congregation remains seated throughout.)
Leader 2: Just as Paul wrote a letter of encouragement to the saints, so we, having heard the faith stories of women and girls in Taiwan, are sending them letters of encouragement. Let us hear what these have to say.
Woman 1: Dear Sister Pao-Chu (pronounced bao-zhu),
Last time we met at the gathering I heard your stories about the urgency of protecting the environment. Your story of faith had an impact on me, and I have followed in your footsteps ever since. I have reused resources, joined a beach-clean and recycled waste at home. I carry my own cutlery and cup to mitigate the plastic crisis. Most importantly, I teach our next generations to protect the environment. We hope that Taiwan can be a nuclear-free homeland in the future. Let us learn together to become good stewards of God’s creation.
(Silence)
Response Hymn: I have heard about your faith
I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
I have heard about your love toward all the saints,
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
and remembering you in my prayers.
Woman 2: Dear Sister Fen-Jiau (pronounced fong-jiao),
I have heard of your faith. You, a middle-aged, indigenous woman, have become a wonderful blessing to women of a similar age.
As a home-maker, you have dedicated yourself to your family for decades. When you tried to find a job to support your family, you were challenged at the workplace. You faced discrimination because of your age and felt pressured to accept social rules against women. You felt you were neglecting your family responsibility when the reason you looked for a job was to take care of your family. Facing a dilemma, you trusted God’s guidance and found the path to support your family by teaching traditional weaving and taking care of your tribe. Your creative potential and strength thrived once again. Your testimony is a wonderful blessing that inspires many sisters.
(Silence)
Response Hymn: I have heard about your faith
I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
I have heard about your love toward all the saints,
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
and remembering you in my prayers..
Woman 3: Dear Sister Jojo (pronounced chow-chow
When you were young, your father asked you to get a job instead of letting you pursue your education. From his perspective, girls do not need an education; instead they need to get married. However, you insisted on continuing your studies.
You asked God to give you wisdom to have conversations with your father so he would change his mind. You prayed that he would understand that daughters and sons have the same right towards an education. Gradually your father understood that girls are not inferior to boys.
After graduation when you went to work, your superiors looked down on educated and professional women. You sought God’s wisdom to resist the pressure and to convince your superiors to measure the performance of women and men without gender bias.
You realised that it is a long path until gender discrimination is over. You have not given up and continue to do your best to convey that women and men have equal rights.
(Silence)
Response Hymn: I have heard about your faith
I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
I have heard about your love toward all the saints,
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
and remembering you in my prayers.
Woman 4: Dear Sister Pearl,
As a hospital cleaner on the front-line during the COVID-19 pandemic, you risked your life to clean and sanitise patients’ rooms in the hospital. You could not go home after work as you did not want to risk infecting your three young children. Struggling on a meagre income, you still needed to rent a room and live there to minimise contamination risks. During self-isolation you could not be there to take care of your family so you felt frustrated and lonely. I am so impressed by the sacrifices you made and pray for you earnestly, hoping that the Lord of my life will also be your strength.
(Silence)
Response Hymn: I have heard about your faith
I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
I have heard about your love toward all the saints,
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
and remembering you in my prayers.
Woman 5: Dear Sister Daiken (pronounced dai-ken),
I constantly thank God for your recovery from the pain caused by the verbal and sexual abuse you suffered when you were little. The unendurable suffering led you to question yourself – Do I deserve love? Then a teacher came to your rescue when you were aged 14.
You have found support from social workers and people who cared about you. Through them you experienced God’s love; you became a follower of Christ.
Though suffering a painful past, you refused to be silent. You revealed your stories by writing and painting. You want to encourage women who have suffered mental and physical abuse to trust in our Saviour, to be transformed, to challenge all negative labels and stigmas and to create a new positive outlook. Now you are a mother of two children and you have become a blessing to them and to other people.
(Silence)
Response Hymn: I have heard about your faith
I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
I have heard about your love toward all the saints,
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
and remembering you in my prayers.
Response Prayer:
All: Merciful God, we come to you in our prayers like the faithful women in the letters who told you of their struggles and hopes. They were not defeated by the difficulties but empowered by your wisdom. We are not alone, for you are listening. We thank you for your presence, guidance and protection as we walk through the valley of shadows. May we glorify you and become a living testimony of Christ.
(Silence)
Response Hymn: I have heard about your faith
I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
I have heard about your love toward all the saints,
I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
and remembering you in my prayers.
Offertory Hymn: God Forgive My Sin in Jesus’ Name
Dedication of the Offertory
Leader 2: World Day of Prayer is an ecumenical movement led by women. The offering is part of our common vision to improve the lives of women and children around the world. We dedicate the offering to this ministry of prayerful action.
Intercessory Prayers
Leader 1: Merciful God, Taiwan has been caught in a superpower struggle. It has been isolated internationally for decades. Though not officially recognised by the international community, Taiwan has tried its best to help the world in agriculture, technology, medicine and humanitarian assistance.
All: O Holy Spirit, may you grant people in Taiwan the strength and wisdom to cope with an uncertain future. We trust you to help Taiwan to be a blessing in the world.
Divine Consoler, you are the Lord of the world. We cling to you; we give ourselves and Taiwan to you, and ask you to watch over us in our weakness. You are our fortress and place of safety.
Woman 1: Creator God, we thank you for entrusting us with this amazing world rich in natural resources.
However, we ignore the cry of Mother Earth: we are facing ecological problems, such as air and water pollution, the waste disposal crisis, the over-utilisation of hillsides, habitat destruction and climate change.
All: God of life, may your kindness fill our hearts and guide us to protect Mother Earth.
Woman 2: Wonderful God, you showed us the value of family when you placed your Son within a human family. We ask you to bless ail those who have the responsibility of raising children and providing for their needs. May the examples parents give be rooted in the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All: Holy Spirit, may your guiding influence prevail upon those in Taiwan who seek to discriminate against those working women who have to support their families financially. Bless all women who show, through their examples, that your love has helped them overcome great hardships in the workplace.
Woman 3: Loving God, you created us in your own image and blessed us. You saw that it was good. We pray for women and girls who bring love and justice into the world.
All: Holy Spirit, please give us wisdom to fight for the marginalised and the oppressed, the poor and the helpless. Give us courage to speak up for them and inspire leaders to create a safer place for women and girls.
Woman 5: Caring God, to you all people are equal and deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. We pray for all those – men, women and children – who have suffered abuse in any form. Be with them as they try to rebuild their lives.
All: Holy Spirit, please give us the compassion to support those who have suffered from abuse, the tolerance and patience required to help abusers acknowledge their faults and seek help, and the courage to speak out against injustice wherever we see it.
Woman 4: Gracious God, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a great challenge. We pray for those who have lost loved ones, and those who did not find relief for their suffering. There are so many victims of the pandemic.
All: God, empower us to help and bring comfort in a post-COVID-19 pandemic world.
Leader 2: Gracious God, we thank you for your good guidance during the pandemic outbreak in 2020 when, under severe circumstances, WDP Taiwan prepared this worship service we are now celebrating in 2023.
All: Caring God, we thank you that the World Day of Prayer movement was able to stay together in your presence.
Leader 2: We are grateful for the efforts of WDP women in Taiwan to overcome their differences and seek unity and consensus through God’s grace.
All: 0 Lord, may you guide us toward the path of unity in Christ.
We Say together
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
All: May God hear our stories and keep us in faith. May Jesus grant us wisdom truly to know the meaning of redemption. May the Holy Spirit open our hearts so that we can be a blessing to others.
Amen!
Closing Hymn is – The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended
- The day you gave us, Lord, is ended,
the darkness falls at your behest;
to you our morning hymns ascended,
your praise shall sanctify our rest. - We thank you that your church, unsleeping
while earth rolls onward into light,
through all the world her watch is keeping,
and rests not now by day or night. - As o’er each continent and island
the dawn leads on another day,
the voice of prayer is never silent,
nor dies the strain of praise away. - The sun, that bids us rest, is waking
our brethren beneath the western sky,
and hour by hour fresh lips are making
your wondrous doings heard on high. - So be it, Lord; your throne shall never,
like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
but stand and rule and grow forever,
’til all your creatures own your swa (by John Ellerton, 1870)
(Taiwanese music is played as all leave.)
© 702211.